Initial Action Flashcards
(27 cards)
What are the initial Police responder’s primary functions?
- Attending the scene at an early stage.
- Taking control of the situation.
- Coordinating tasks.
Provide examples of scenarios that may not be initially identifiable as a homicide?
- Report of a missing person
- Sudden unexplained death of an infant
- Unexplained death
- Report of an abduction
- Report of violence where no fatalities are anticipated
- Crime scene without a body present
- Hit and run vehicular collision
- Suicide
- Fatal fire
- Drug related deaths
What does VAWSEEPO stand for?
- Victim
- Appreciation
- Witnesses
- Scene
- Exhibits
- Elements
- Powers
- Offender
Define Appreciation?
A proven method of problem solving. The process follows a series of set steps to ensure the optimum course of action is decided upon. It considers all appropriate factors and weighs the benefits and risks of all alternative solutions, allowing sound decisions to be taken.
What are the benefits of the appreciation technique?
- Informs all police what they are expected to achieve
- Increases the chance of success
- Establishes a sequence of activities
- Manages risks
- Reduces uncertainty
- Eliminates duplication
- Ensures nothing is overlooked
- Effective use of resources
What are the steps to an appreciation? AFCO
- Aim
- Factors
- Courses Open
- Outline (Plan)
Aim - Objective
Factors - Circumstance or fact that could effect outcome
Courses Open - Possible solution’s
Outcome - Plan
What is the purpose of Police at a death?
Investigate thoroughly and gather sufficient evidence to explain the circumstances of the death.
What information must be obtained from the informant or complainant of a sudden death?
- Identity or location of SUSPECT
- An ACCOUNT from complainant or informant
- LOCATION of scene
- CIRCUMSTANCES of discovery
- IDENTITY of victim
- Other WITNESSES at scene
- FULL details of informant
- DEMEANOUR
- RELATIONSHIP
- ACTIONS of informant
- Details of HAZARDS
Sometimes there is a delay between initial report and police arrive at scene, complainant/informant may be asked to
- Return to proximity of scene and guard it, if safe to do so
- Not to enter the obvious boundaries of the scene
- Not to move or touch anything
- Prevent other from entering or touching scene
- Await Police and ID themselves to first Police at scene
Officers who have initial contact should?
Make detailed notes outlining what the informant said, what their demeanour was, what they were wearing
What should Police do when they get to the scene?
- Preserve life and ensure safety of Police, and others present.
- Establish who is present at the scene, this may include injured people or a hidden offender
What are the three categories for Victims medical status?
- Alive and uninjured
- Alive but injured
- Shows no signs of life
What to do if it is anticipated a victim may die?
Speak to them about what’s happened and record details. Take into account “circumstances” under s16 of EA
- Nature
- Content
- Circumstances
- Veracity of witness
- Accuracy of observation
If victim shows no signs of life, what do?
Do not move them more than is necessary to establish death, photograph and record their position if you have to move them.
What to do when you discover a body? Body/ Medical/ Exhibits
- Consider AMBO
- REMAIN until CIB attendance
- Arrange DOCTOR for “Verification of Death”
- Treat victim as a SCENE
- LEAVE clothes on
- EQUIPMENT left
- SCOPING interview with medical staff
- Victim COMMENTS
- Record BODY POSITION
- Record EVERYTHING
- Record EXHIBITS
- SKETCH plan of body and exhibits
- Provide info to O/C
Initial Action to preserve the scene
IDENTIFY - Scene, related scenes, SFP
SECURE - Cordon, parameters, remove persons
PRESERVE - Approach path, preserve exhibits, ESR consult
CONSIDER - Initial photographs
RECORD - Integrity, sketch, notes
Purpose of the scene guard and maintaining a scene guard?
- No unauthorised entry into the scene.
- Integrity of evidence.
- Intelligence opportunities.
- Contamination issues managed.
What are the scene guards duties?
- Secure scene
- Record details
- Control movements
- Record movements
- Brief others
- Avoid disturbance
- Protect scene
- Brief replacement
- Respect security
- Demonstrate courtesy
- Inform others
Obtaining forensic evidence from a witness at a scene
- Swabs of blood on witnesses
- Swabs of other stains
- Forensic medical, fingernail, hair
- Clothing and footwear
- Items touched
What are the procedures for dealing with suspects at the scene?
- Seperate suspects
- Condition of suspect (intoxicated, injured)
- Remain at scene
- Refusal, consider arrest
- Cross Examination, use officers who have not attended scene
- Consider searching suspect, vehicle and vicinity
- Note appearance and behaviour
- Words said
- Attempt DVD
- Brief O/C
What will the OC Investigation want to know?
- What has occurred?
- What action has been taken?
- What has not been done?
- What needs to be done?
What to do upon arrival at Hospital? (Victims, exhibits, statements)
- Medical OPINION
- Seize CLOTHING
- Obtain TOXICOLOGY
- Seize bandages and where they were
- Firearm RESIDUE samples
- Note and photograph INJURIES
- DNA swabs
- DETAILS of all people
- SCOPING interview TEDS questions
- Preliminary interview with AMBO
How to preserve the scene?
Freeze, control, preserve
How to deal with the media?
- Keep away from immediate scene.
- Make no comment.
- Consult O/C
